Cavs v. Montepaschi Siena - Postgame Quick Hits

Quick notes following the Cavs' 91-85 victory over Montepaschi Siena at the Q last night:

- Samardo Samuels was the best Cavalier on the floor last night, notching 14 points and 7 rebounds in 28 minutes. Samuels looks strong, agile and confident after this Summer's weight loss, and he made a strong case for a roster spot last night. Samuels even hit three 18-footers when the ball found him in the corner.

- Nipping on Samuels' heels was his Summer workout partner, Tristan Thompson. Thompson finished with 12 points and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes, doing his work exclusively in the paint. Thompson also looks to be more confident heading into his sophomore season, as both he and his teammates seem to recognize the special athleticism he brings to the table.

- Dion Waiters didn't get much time on Monday (15 minutes), but he was aggressive when he was in the game, getting to the basket frequently on his way to 11 points, including 5-for-6 from the free throw line. Waiters' jumper still leaves something to be desired - his first shot was an airball three-point attempt - but as long as he keeps attacking he can make an impact.

- Waiters came off the bench on Monday, as he did throughout his college career, and it just makes a lot of sense to have Waiters driving the offense with the second unit. Waiters needs the ball in his hands to be most effective, and as the primary offensive weapon off the bench, he can dominate the ball as much as he wants.

- It also makes sense because a starting lineup of Kyrie Irving, C.J. Miles, Alonzo Gee, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao gives the Cavs good size and balance. That lineup played well in the second half against Montepaschi Siena, turning a 3-point Cavalier deficit at halftime into a 10-point Cavs lead early in the third quarter.

- For his part, Kyrie Irving again had trouble finding good shots, similar to what we saw in Saturday's scrimmage performance. Irving did manage to get to the free throw line - he was 8-for-9 - but his shot isn't falling yet. Irving dazzled with some dribble moves, but his passes were generally off by a foot or so when he tried to deliver off the dribble, forcing tough catches and making it hard for the receiver to catch and finish. In general, Irving just hasn't been as locked in during the two times we have seen him.

- While Irving was not great, Daniel Gibson was horrendous. Gibson finished 0-for-5, with 1 point, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 official turnovers, though there were at least 5 by my count. Gibson's game is a mess right now, and whenever the Cavs ask him to do anything more than stand behind the three-point line and shoot, disaster seems to follow. Gibson is quickly becoming the Grady Sizemore of the Cavaliers, and I am finding it hard to believe that he will justify the $4.7 Million salary option the Cavs picked up for this season.

- Tyler Zeller had a solid game, with 7 points, 7 rebounds, an assist and a steal. Zeller didn't always seal his man off when rebounding, however, and gave up a few offensive rebounds due to poor rotations. Like Anderson Varejao, Zeller is tall and agile but not especially thick and heavy, and he needs to be more physical to avoid being pushed around in the paint. I am still a big fan of the way he looks to outlet the ball after rebounds, but the Cavs have not been able to take advantage of his ability to get out and run.

- The Cavs are not running at all, actually. They had just two fastbreak points all night.

- C.J. Miles doesn't always take good shots, but the Cavs will need his offense (10 points, 4-for-5 shooting) to stay in games. He was a big part of the Cavs taking the lead in the third quarter. Alonzo Gee was a non-factor in this game (2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists), making Miles' contributions all the more important.

That's it for Game 1. Preseason Game 2 is tonight in Canton, Ohio.

Go Cavs.

You can email Michael Curry at CavsHQ@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter @Mike_CavsHQ.

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